Mission Statement
The American Association of Children's Residential Centers brings professionals together to advance the frontiers of knowledge pertaining to the spectrum of therapeutic living environments for children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders.
Philosophy and Values
The American Association of Children's Residential Centers believes that children and adolescents, and their families, are entitled to treatment which offers the maximum opportunity for growth and change. Children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders present unique treatment challenges. The complexity of their clinical conditions and their developmental needs demand that many children and adolescents be served in settings that are constructed to ensure experiential learning of healthy and productive life skills. AACRC believes that clinically crafted residential treatment options, ranging from community based homes through institutional environments, are essential components in a comprehensive system of behavioral health care.
Core Purposes
- Advance Professional Knowledge
- Conducting high quality, clinically oriented conferences
- Providing diversified continuing education opportunities
- Supporting the professional journal, "Residential Treatment for Children & Youth"
- Creating opportunities for professional exchange
- Impact Clinical Practice
- Sharing information regarding demonstrated advances in service delivery
- Enhancing awareness of national trends in programming and management
- Encouraging nationwide research and study on outcomes
- Advocate for the Clinical Needs of Children, Adolescents and Families
- Participating in alliances dedicated to improving options for children, adolescents and families
- Increasing public understanding about mental health and behavioral disturbances in children and adolescents
- Educating policy makers regarding the efficacy of residential treatment environments